Double murder jury told to 'put emotion aside'

The jury in the trial of a man accused of murdering his wife and her son have been urged to "put emotion and sympathy to one side".

Calogero Ricotta, 64, denies murdering Maria Ricotta and her son 29-year-old son Giuseppe Morreale at their home in Ugley, Essex, in May last year.

The prosecution said Mr Ricotta killed his wife as she was planning to divorce him, but the defendant said Mr Morreale accidentally killed his mother during a struggle between the two men.

In his closing speech for the prosecution, Simon Spence KC described it as "a tragic and harrowing case".

Chelmsford Crown Court had previously been told how 54-year-old Mrs Ricotta - whose maiden name was Nugara - returned to the family home in Ugley in the evening of 28 May 2024, after visiting a relative.

The prosecution said that under three minutes later, a 999 call was being made as Mr Ricotta attacked his wife in the lounge with a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times.

A pathologist's report revealed Mrs Ricotta suffered 14 stab wounds and 44 further cuts, including to her neck.

Mr Spence told the court how Mr Morreale had run into the room to try and defend his mother, but was fatally stabbed in the process. He was also found to have a knife wound to his neck.

"What they went through that fateful night does not bear thinking about," Mr Spence told the jury as he closed the prosecution's case.

"You must put emotion and sympathy to one side, no matter how hard that may be."

Giving evidence earlier in the trial, Mr Ricotta said on the night in question, he had been arguing with his wife over their dogs barking when Mr Morreale ran into the room with a knife and "lunged" at him.

Mr Ricotta said that he used his wife as a human shield as Mr Morreale continued to lunge at him with the knife, and during a struggle between the two men, Mr Morreale had accidentally stabbed his mother.

In his closing speech for the defence, Graham Trembarth KC acknowledged it was "a horrendous case", and cast doubt on the prosecution's case, particularly as to whether there were one or two knives used.

Mr Trembarth also re-stated the defence's allegation that Mr Morreale was responsible for killing his mother, and had previously made verbal threats against his stepfather.

In his closing remarks, Mr Trembarth urged the jury to "keep an open mind and consider all realistic possible alternatives".

The judge, Mrs Justice Stacey, will continue her summing up when the trial resumes on Tuesday morning, with the jury expected to be sent out to consider its verdict afterwards.

Mr Ricotta denies two charges of murder, and one of causing actual bodily harm.

The trial continues.

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